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"It’s fine." I jerk my head toward the table. "Why don’t you leave it there for now? This is her nap time anyway."
Avery yawns again, and I hold her close and pat her back as I rock in the chair. Within a few minutes, she’s fast asleep. I bury my nose in her hair and draw in her baby smell, which is already fading. Soon, she’ll become her own person, and I’ll have missed so much of her childhood. If only I had trusted Sebastian. If only I had told him everything.
Avery’s breathing deepens. I rock back and forth a few more times, then rising to my feet, I place her in the crib and cover her up. Drawing the curtains, I pick up the baby monitor and follow Theresa out. We walk to the living room to find Massimo and Axel deep in conversation.
Massimo points to the bag with Avery’s essentials that he has placed by the sofa.
"Thank you." I glance between them. "How is… Seb doing?"
"He’s much better." Massimo leans forward a little. "They’re discharging him tomorrow."
"Oh..." I swallow. After that conversation with Seb, I had walked out of the hospital room, and Adrian had driven me home to my old apartment. He’d explained that the Sovranos had decided I should move back here and stay here for now. I wasn’t allowed out; not even to pick up Avery. Theresa and Axel would be the ones who’d pick her up and drop her back with Fabio.
After I had confessed everything to Michael that day in the hospital, he hadn’t seemed too surprised. Maybe he’d suspected it all along. Maybe he’s just seen so much in his life, this latest twist didn’t come as a shock to him.
After the doctor reassured us Seb was going to be fine, I was allowed to peek in on him in the recovery room. He was sleeping. I wanted to stay with him, but after everything I’d just told Michael, it didn’t seem like I had the right to ask to do so.
Instead, I agreed to being driven to my place, where I crashed. When I woke up, Theresa arrived with food; along with Axel and Massimo. Which is when they conveyed to me that, for now, I’ll be staying here. All of my needs will be taken care of. I’m not allowed to leave the house.
I was allowed to call Fabio and tell him that I was unwell and Axel and Theresa would arrive to pick up Avery. Fabio had met Theresa at the flower shop, so she wasn't a stranger to him. I had expected Fabio to be uncooperative, but he hadn't asked too many questions. After that, my phone had been taken, and I didn't have access to internet in the house.
Other than that, I’m allowed to do whatever I want. Which basically means, I’m under a kind of house arrest. Clearly, the Sovranos don't trust me. Not that I blame them. After what happened to Seb, I’m surprised they didn't do something worse... although I’m still under Seb's protection, so they’re not going to kill me. They told me that nothing will be decided about me or my future until Seb is back on his feet. That includes not moving against Fabio, for now. Seb was adamant about that.
That was two days ago, and now, Seb is being discharged.
"When… when do I get to see him?"
Axel and Massimo glance at each other.
"When he asks for you," Massimo replies.
Of all the Sovranos, he’s the one who speaks the least, he's also the most tatted.
Seb too has tattoos. I've seen them peek out from under his collar though I don't know what they are about. But then I’ve never seen my husband without his shirt on, either. He is still my husband, right? I play with the ring on my finger. I’m still married to him, technically, at least.
"I want to see him." I set my jaw. "I want to be there when he arrives home."
Massimo and Axel exchange glances. At least Luca isn’t here. If he were, there’s no doubt, he’d shut down that suggestion right away.
"I’m still his wife; he’ll want to see me when he’s back from the hospital."I hope.I bite the inside of my cheek. "Besides, he’ll need help, since he’s hurt. I can be there for him."
The doorbell rings.
Theresa turns to me. "Will that wake up Avery?"
I shake my head. "Once she’s asleep, she’s not disturbed by noises." I take a step toward the door, but Massimo beats me to it. Of course, I’m not allowed to open the door to my own apartment. I’m under house arrest, after all. I lock my fingers together as Massimo reaches the door and throws it open. Karma walks in, followed by Aurora. Michael and Christian follow in their wake.
Both of the women make a beeline toward me.
"Elsa..." Karma throws her arms around me. "How are you?"
Aurora pats my shoulder, then hovers next to us, while Theresa flanks me on the other side.
I’m not worried that the Sovrano brothers would hurt me. They’re too loyal to Seb for that, but it still feels good to have the women in my corner.
"I’m fine," I sniffle as I hug Karma back.
"Are you?" She leans back and peers into my face. "You don’t look fine, babe." She turns to Michael. "Don, this is not right." Her voice takes on a pleading tone, "Elsa's one of us. She also told you the truth of her own accord. Surely, she shouldn't be punished for it?"
